Carry On

Nat and Anna got married recently – March 17, 2010, St. Patrick’s Day. We had a glorious day, filled with sweet memories and new tomorrows. Friends and family gathered together to celebrate love. Can any of us serve a better intention?

NAT, ANNA, RUBY - THE DANCE BEGINS

Bittersweet, the word that kept coming up for me and others, is so very limited in its expression of how we put together our thoughts and feelings that day. Yet, that word, that sentiment, truly fit the occasion. Like dark chocolate, you know…it’s best served with Irish Breakfast tea and a spot of honey, in my opinion. The wedding was best served with love, laughter, embraces, dedication, tears of joy, and a pint or two.

Nat and Anna’s ceremony was narrated by the telling of their love story, a beautiful one, indeed. From their childhood memories – together and apart, to mature longing for lasting kinship, to Owen’s passing and beyond, their story is all of our stories. Love abounds, children are born, games are played, mysteries unfold, loss becomes part of life, and love carries on.

Owen’s words were included as part of the testimony, “This kind of love only comes around once in a lifetime, Nat. Fly your freak flag high.” He was referring to Nat’s concerns about being in love with a girl they’d both known since childhood, and the close family relationships they all shared. Nat remembered this conversation as the turning point in his contemplations about pursuing the woman of his dreams, with all the known and unknown hardships, all the known and unknown joys. Nat has certainly, flown his freak flag high. He won the girl, became the father of the child, and lives to honor the hardships, the joys, and every moment in between. He is the boy who became the man, and I’m proud to be his mother. I’m proud to know my sons supported each other’s dreams. I’m proud to be the mother of these two brothers. I’m privileged to be a part of Anna’s and Ruby’s family.

Ruby danced in a world of change that Wednesday afternoon, and thankfully, was held in the arms of a loving family and the coming Spring. Her face was full of wonder, her eyes set on her parents’ hearts, and her hopes cast to the new dawn.

Song for the night: Carry On, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (“…rejoice, rejoice, we have no choice, but to carry on…”)

Welcome to a blog I never wanted to write…

Reading the page below entitled, "Mystery O. Riley" will give you some background, and if you find our mystery something you'd like to follow, please come back often. Losing our 20-year-old son isn't the way it's supposed to be, as we always hear people say. But, for some of us, it is the way it is. And, there's nothing to do, but find a path on this unthinkable road, through an unimaginable forest of grief, and in our case...an unforgiveable river of mystery.